Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 July 1908 — MR. TAFT’S MANAGERS. [ARTICLE]

MR. TAFT’S MANAGERS.

That the trusts and Wall street are to finance Mr. Tait's campaign is a fact that was settled before the Republican National convention. Mr. Taft’s selection of Hitchcock for his chairman and Sheldon for his treasurer removed the last doubt on that subject. Speaking of Sheldon, the Philadelphia Record says: In addition to what has already been said in these columns of George R. Sheldon, the new treasurer of the Republican campaign committee, there are some further facts in his financial career which amply demonstrate his high qualifications for the task that is imposed upon him. A better choice for the work of “frying the fat” out of the trusts and monopolies for the Grand Old Party could not have been made after a most diligent search. Cornelius N. Bliss, the smirk dry goods merchant of New York, for a like service was rewarded with the office of secretary of the interior for a brief period. There can be no question as to the boldness with which he levied large amounts of blackmail with the patriotic design of keeping the government out of the hands of the wicked Democrats. Still, with all the merits of Bliss in this branch of political science, there is reason to conclude that Sheldon will outstrip him In gathering corporate funds for corrupting the elections. Sheldon opened his career as one of the most daring and unscrupulous of Wall street’s Industrial promoters. It would be difficult to name the more or less wormy industrial trusts and combinations with which he was connected in that period of wild speculation that began ten years ago upon the passage of the Dingley tariff. For one example, he had a prominent share in organizing and exploiting that iniquitous scheme the shipbuilding trust, officially known' as the United States Shipbuilding company. As one Of the reckless Wall street promoters who had a large share In producing the financial collapse of last year, the propriety of Sheldon’s

selection to “hold the bag” up to the trout* in this Taft campaign wHI hardly be disputed. Hitchcock and Sheldon! How admirable the combination!